Elisa's Travel Diary

Hida Takayama 飛騨高山 Takayama is a beautiful getaway choice when you want to visit Shirakawa-go. Getting to Takayama from Shirakawago: After spent around 3 hours in Shirakawa-go, I traveled to Takayama with Nohi Bus. Travel between Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, and Takayama can be accessed with Nohi bus. Online reservation is required for most of the nohi routes. The Nohi Bus to Takayama is in front the Shirakawago Bus Terminal. It took around 40 minutes to arrived Takayama from Shirakawago. As I mentioned in my previous post, my main purpose of this trip was to visit Shirakawa go. So before heading back  to Tokyo, I planned to spend around 4 hours in Takayama. I didn’t bring any luggage, so it is easy for me to walk around the city. Even if you have luggage with you, you can put your luggage in the coin locker at the bus terminal next to the train station. Getting around Takayama: Takayama is a small city and easy to go around by foot. There are plenty of guesthouse a...

Shirakawa-go – Gifu Prefecture This post is continuation from my previous blog at Kanazawa. Please click here if you want to read my blog in Kanazawa. Getting to Shirakawa-go from Kanazawa: Travel to Shirakawa-go can be accessed with Nohi bus. Online reservation is required for most of the nohi routes. Nohi bus station in Kanazawa is located at Kanazawa Station bus stop #2 in the east gate. It took around 1 and half hour to arrived at Shirakawa Ogimachi village. Time Spent at Shirakawa-go I reserved the 8.10 am bus and arrived Shirakawa-go Ogimachi Village at around 9.30 pm. I spent approximately 3 hours in this village, and then heading to Takayama by Nohi bus. I bought the bus ticket online at japanonlinebus website before I arrived Japan. Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal There is a tourist information desk, toilet, coin locker in the Shirakawago station. If you bring luggage, do not worry as you can put it in the coin locker with around JPY 500. I didn’t bring...

Kanazawa - Ishikawa Prefecture My highlight of this trip was to visit Shirakawa-go. However, there is no direct JR Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go,  so I took the chance to visit Kanazawa before Shirakawa- go and Takayama after Shirakawa-go. Getting to Kanazawa from Tokyo: The Hokuriku Shinkansen serves the direct route from Tokyo to Kanazawa with only 3 hours. Please reserve the seat at the JR ticket office in any station in Japan before took the train. Getting around Kanazawa: For JR Pass holder, can take the JR bus for free around the Kanazawa city. The bus’s schedule can be asked in the tourist information desk in Kanazawa station.  Non JR Pass holder can also take the JR bus, but need to pay. Things to do in Kanazawa: Kenroku-en garden Konrokuen is considered as one of the 3 great garden in Japan. It is more beautiful during snow as the whole garden turns white. Below is the picture I took from google, as I arrived too late and the garde...

19 April 2015 was my first time to Japan. Started from one of my colleagues offered me a very cheap ticket as he need to cancelled his flight due to some reason. It was mid spring where we can still spot some part of Tokyo with sakura. The return flight to/from Narita Tokyo. My 6 days itinerary covered Tokyo, Kyoto and Kawaguchiko.   Getting Aroung Japan: Travel around Japan can be easily assessed by public transportation. Travel around city can be assessed by JR Train and Willer bus. Depends on the number of days and number of cities for the whole trip. If you travel to more than 2 cities, then JR pass is highly recommended. Midnight bus also applicable for some city at Willer bus website. Internet Connection: Wifi rental I rented a pupuru wifi cost around SGD 5 per day and share for 2 people. The wifi can be collected in the airport or it can be delivered to our hotel in Japan. By the end of the trip, we need to return the wifi modem by putting it in a post bo...

Getting to Nami Island and Petite France can be easily accessed by public transportation. It is best to have day tour from Seoul. If you have more time, you can visit  Morning Calm Arboretum after Nami and Petite France. Step by step direction to Nami Island and Petite France: 1.   [MRT] From Seoul Station to Cheongnyangni Station (1 hour 30 minutes) 2.   [ITX Train] Cheongnyangni Station to Gapyeong Station (50 minutes) The ITX ticket can be booked online for more comfort seat at   http://www.letskorail.com or buy directly at Cheongnyangni station ticket booth. The price is KRW 4,800 per person. 3.   [Gapyeong Bus Tour] Gapyeong Station Bus Stop to Namisum (10 minutes) The bus ticket can be purchased directly with the driver, cost KRW 6,000 for whole day. 4.   [Ferry/ Zipwire] to Nami Island (15 minutes) The ferry ticket to Nami Island can be purchased at the ticket booth at Namisum costs KRW 8,000 for round trip and t...